Debate over Pasadena redistricting grows rowdy

A Pasadena councilwoman was forcibly ejected by armed officers, and the mayor was accused of packing a gun during recent meetings on a controversial redistricting plan.

Councilwoman Pat Van Houte was removed from a meeting Tuesday on orders of Mayor Johnny Isbell after exceeding a three-minute speaking limit. And at a redistricting hearing in March, another councilman said he was "shocked" to see Isbell carrying what looked like a handgun.

Pasadena, pop. 150,000, is among the first in the nation to test last year's ruling by the U.S. Supreme court that weakened the Voting Rights Act. The high court voided the preclearance requirement for election changes, which had been the law of the land for nearly half a century in many Southern states.

After the ruling, Isbell pushed forward a plan, narrowly approved by the city's voters. It switches two of the city's eight council seats from district to citywide elections.

Tensions rising

The restructuring of Pasadena's City Council has severely divided its members. Four members representing the poorer, predominantly Hispanic north side oppose change, while four from the wealthier, whiter south side support it. Passions rose to a frenzy at the city's last two meetings as council members discussed how to redraw the lines.

Van Houte acknowledged that she exceeded her time limit Tuesday before Isbell pulled the plug and ordered her removed.

Van Houte said she was not given sufficient time to voice her objections to the proposed new map: "If someone is trying to represent the best interests of their city, they should not be thrown out for doing it. I've not seen this happen in the nearly five years that I've been on council."

In the map approved on first reading Tuesday, she and another incumbent from the north end, Ornaldo Ybarra, objected to being located in the same district and having to run against one another. She was evicted before the vote was taken.

'She just kept talking'

Ybarra and the other two from the north end denounced the map and walked out in solidarity with Van Houte prior to the vote. The map was approved with the mayor and the four council members from the south side supporting it.

Isbell said he had granted Van Houte an extra minute beyond the two minutes normally allowed.

"We have rules that we have to adhere to," he said. "When the timer went off, she was told her time was up. I warned her several times. But she just kept talking over everybody."

Councilman Cody Wheeler reported seeing the mayor with what looked like a handgun at a March meeting.

"We were talking to citizens at the end of the meeting and the mayor leaned over to pick up something. The gun fell out onto the floor in front of me and some other citizens," said Wheeler. "I was shocked. I didn't know what to say. The mayor just picked it up and put it away."

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Isbell said Wednesday that the weapon was an unloaded pellet gun delivered to him by a friend. He said he stuck it in a folder and it accidentally slipped out.